Class XVI international seminar trip Reports February 15-27, 2014
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- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- Drinking water on our Trip
- Packing Tips Jane Fuhlendorf
- Agriculture
- USDA GUIDELINES FOR BRINGING AGRICULTURAL ITEMS INTO THE U.S.
- SOUTH AFRICA’S FARMING SECTORS – Brief overview
- South Africa Agriculture Jennifer Jensen
- Agricultural value chains
- Biotechnology, including GMOs
- Agricultural Households per Province
- Agricultural Universities
- Agriculture in South Africa Chris Hitch
- Government and Military Chris Kidd Meriruth Cohenour Justin Lingo Janet Stewart Politics
- Chris Kidd Politics
- Relationship of the media and government
- Treaties and laws (relationship with the U.S.)
- South African Symbols and There Meanings
- National flag .
Gold. South Africa accounted for 15% of the world’s gold production in 2002, 12% in 2005, and 6% in 2013, though the nation had produced as much as 30% of world output as recently as 1993. Despite declining production, South Africa’s gold exports were still their biggest mineral export and they still hold over 50% of the world gold reserves.Diamonds. South Africa has been a world leader in diamond production since 1868. The DeBeers Consolidated Mines Company is the primary source of South African diamonds. In 2003, DeBeers operations accounted for 94% of the nation’s total diamond output of 11,900,000 carats (2.4 metric tons). This figure includes both gemstones and industrial diamonds. Diamond production rose in 2005 to over 15,800,000 carats (3.2 metric tons). However, in 2012 their market share has fallen to around 50%.The Cullinan diamond is the largest gem-quality diamond ever found, at 3106.75 carats rough weight. About 4.1 inches long in its largest dimension, it was found January 26th, 1905, in the Premier No. 2 mine, near Pretoria South Africa. The Cullinan was split and cut into 7 major stones and 96 smaller stones. Platinum and Palladium. South Africa produces more platinum and similar metals than any other nation. In 2005, 78% of the world’s platinum was produced in South Africa, along with 39% of the world’s palladium. Over 163,000 kilograms (5,200,000 oz.) of platinum was produced in 2005, generating export revenues of $3.82 billion USDChromium. Chromium is another leading product of South Africa’s mining industry. The metal, used in stainless steel and for a variety of industrial applications, is mined at 10 sites around the country. South Africa’s production of chromium accounted for 100% of the world’s total production in 2005.Coal. South Africa is the world’s third largest coal exporter, and much of the country’s coal is used as their primary source of energy. South Africa is continuing to expand their coal operations and has invested over 45 million to expand their production. In 2012, South Africa produced 266.1 million metric tons of coal and are projected to produce 308 million metric tons by 2018. Their exports are primarily to China, India and Europe.Water Supply and Sanitation in South Africa:Water supply and sanitation has been very challenging, but there have been achievements made by South Africa. Once South Africa elected a new government at the end of the Apartheid they inherited massive backlogs of service with respect to access to both water and sanitation. Approximately fifteen million people did not have access to a safe water supply and more than twenty million people were without adequate sanitation services. The South African government made large investments and a formidable commitment to change the quality of services in the country. The government has increased the access to improved water sources from 83% to 91% from 1990 to 2010. However, there are great concerns to the financial sustainability of services leading to the lack of attention to maintenance as well as the government’s ability to maintain funding levels for service providers. There is a very distinctive feature of the South African water sector policy that gives every citizen the right to free basic water that began in 2001. This allowed all households with access a free allotment of water, which is subsidized by tariffs that penalize users once they surpass the allotment. In practice, the allotment of free water has proved to be inadequate even for most low-income households, forcing them into higher water bills than were charged prior to the introduction of the free water policy. Sanitation progress has been slower and according to estimates by the WHO/UNICEF global Joint Monitoring Progamme for Water Supply and Sanitation based on survey and census data, the share of South Africans with access to improved sanitation has increased slowly from 71% in 1990 to 79% in 2010. In 2010, an estimated 11 million South Africans still did not have access to improved sanitation: Those that used shared facilities (4 million), buckets (3 million) or practiced open defecation (4 million). The percent of homes with access to flushing toilets increased from 53% in 2001 to 60% in 2011. The health impacts of inadequate sanitation can be very serious even cause death. Drinking water on our Trip: The CDC recommendation for tourists traveling to South Africa is to drink and use ice only from bottled water that is sealed or water that has been disinfected. You can drink carbonated drinks, hot coffee or tea and pasteurized milk. Bottled water is readily available in most areas of South Africa. Sources: http://www.southafrica.info/ http://wikitravel.org/en/Kruger_National_Park http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_industry_of_South_Africa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Beers http://www.ibtimes.com/african-development-south-africa-seen-expanding-coal-development-continents-energy-demand-grows http://ourwatercommons.org/water-solutions/case-4-free-water-south-africa http://www.thesouthafrican.com/columns/south-africas-top-10-deadliest-animals.htm Packing Tips Jane Fuhlendorf
Airline restrictions for luggage: We are travelling on United Airlines and South African Airways. The following airline restrictions for carry-on and checked baggage should be followed:
Given the length of the trip and the luggage restrictions, it is imperative that participants pack wisely to avoid costly overages and to minimize the hassle. There are number of tips and tricks which can be employed to make the trip as hassle free and keep your luggage lightweight. Remember, the season is late summer, so it is recommended that you pack light-weight clothing and a light jacket. Your OALP jacket may be a bit heavy, but would be a good addition since it can protect you from the rain in case those conditions are present. You only need to bring one business outfit. Below is a checklist for what you need and these items if carefully chosen should fit in one carry-on sized suitcase or 1 checked bag with room to spare. __Business jacket __1 pair trousers/skirt __1 pair jeans __1 pair shorts __2-4 shirts/tops __3 pairs socks (not cotton) __3 pairs underwear __Swimsuit __1 Sleep pants/top __Light sweater __Umbrella __OALP jacket __Necktie / scarf __Sun hat __Comfortable dress shoes __Walking shoes (or wear these on the trip) __Flip flops or slippers __Belt
__Day Pack or Laundry Bag __Luggage Lock __Safety Pins / Sewing Kit __Ziploc bags __Tooth brush/paste __razor, blades, cream __shampoo/hairspray __cosmetics __Detergent __Aspirin/Advil __Diarrhea treatment __Antibiotic ointment __Cipro __Malaria pills __Insect repellent – DEET __Sunscreen / lip balm __Bandages or other first aid __Medications in original packages __Contacts/glasses/solutions __Sunglasses __Pen & notebook __Guidebooks or notes __Reading material __Passport __Vaccination record __ Drivers License __Copies of important documents __Travellers Checks/ cash / credit card __Camera / battery / charge cable __Cell phone adapter / phone __Electrical Adapter __Snacks
__Gifts for hosts Trip insurance: OSU purchases trip insurance for all participants. I have requested information from Edmond about this insurance and how it works. We will need to make sure participants are aware of the coverage. Handling jet lag What is Jet Lag? Jet lag is a temporary circadian rhythm sleep disorder that results from air travel across time zones. The symptoms of jet lag are fatigue, insomnia, disorientation, swelling limbs, loss of appetite, headaches, mood disturbances, bowel irregularity and light-headedness. How long does it last? Recovering from jet lag varies by individual, but the more time zones crossed, the greater the time of recovery. Most people are fully recovered at the rate of two time zones per day. There are 8 time zones in our trip to Africa, so everyone should feel pretty good about 4 days into the trip. Jet Lag Prevention and Recovery:
In-flight comfort: Napping for more than 1 hour without moving around is discouraged. However, you may want to be prepared to vary your activities during the flight. Your MP3 player and a good set of ear buds or head phones are a great tool. Bring an audio book or create a playlist ahead of time. Bring a good book and check your watch so that you get up and move around the cabin during the flight every hour or so. Onboard Exercises In-flight Exercises to Reduce Jetlag Loosen your muscles and joints with these simple stretches in between hourly walks around the cabin during long flights. • Feet: Circle your feet at the ankles - 20 times per foot. • Legs: Starting with your feet on the floor, bring your legs slowly up towards your chest, as far as you can. Relax them slowly, and repeat three times. • Knees: Press the knees and thighs together, and tighten buttock muscles. Hold to the count of five, and repeat five times. • Hands: Grip the edge of your armrest, and hold to a count of five then relax. Repeat 10 times. • Arms: Starting with your arms outstretched, flex at the elbow, and bring them slowly into your chest. Extend them again, and repeat five times. Respect the fellow sitting in front of you – no poking him in the back of the head! • Shoulders: Hunch up your shoulders, hold and slowly relax. Repeat five times. • Neck: Move your head slowly towards your right shoulder and hold, then towards your left shoulder and hold. Move your chin slowly down towards your chest - hold and relax. Repeat three times.
Sources: http://www.medicinenet.com/jet_lag/article.htm Interview with Leslie Elmore, international traveler http://www.onebag.com/ http://www.acefitness.org/updateable/update_display.aspx?pageID=494 http://www.wikihow.com/Do-an-In-Flight-Fitness-Workout http://www.flysaa.com/za/en/flyingSAA/baggage/airlink-baggage-policy.html http://www.onebag.com/checklist.html
Debbie Wedel Jennifer Jensen Chris Hitch Agriculture Debbie Wedel DO NOT BRING A DEVASTATING ANIMAL DISEASE HOME WITH YOU www.aphis.usda.gov/travel Traveling abroad to a foreign country is a privilege for members of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program. During our travels, we must be good stewards and work to ensure the continued health and safety of our own livestock and other agricultural assets at home by adhering to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) guidelines. As part of their efforts, the USDA and APHIS work together to protect livestock and poultry from the introduction of “high-consequence” foreign animal diseases and pests, that do not currently exist in the United States (U.S.). If any foreign animal diseases or pests were introduced in the U.S., they would pose a severe threat to animal health and, in some cases, the economy and human health as well. APHIS works every day to keep the “high-consequence” diseases and pests out of the country, to educate producers about signs to watch for and what to do if they see them, and to look for, detect, and eliminate these diseases if they occur in the U.S. Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease that causes illness in cows, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, and other animals with divided hooves. While the U.S. eradicated the disease in 1929, it is currently found in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. The Kruger National Park (KNP), a national game reserve, is the only endemic FMD disease area in South Africa, because the African Buffalo in the Park are permanent carriers of the virus. KNP is in the FMD Infected Zone. The Buffer Zone comprises the area bordering the western and southern boundary of the KNP. Vaccinated cattle in the Buffer Zone can be identified by an “F” brand on the right side of the neck. Vaccinations are allowed only in the Buffer Zone and these animals are not allowed in the FMD free zone at any time. When visiting a livestock or poultry facility during travel abroad, remember that items such as jewelry, watches, eye glasses, and hair pieces are difficult to disinfect should they become contaminated through contact with foreign animals. These items may transmit disease and should only be worn if needed. Upon your return to the U.S., note your visit to a farm or facility on the U.S. Customs Declaration Form. 11-D. Are you bringing with you soil or have you been on a farm/ranch/pasture outside the United States? 12. Have you or any family members traveling with you been in close proximity of (such as touching or handling) livestock outside the United States? When in doubt, always check “yes” on both of these statements. Also, follow the “5-day” rule: If you visited a farm or had any contact with livestock on your trip, avoid all contact with livestock, zoo animals, or wildlife for 5 days after your return to the U.S. And always wash and disinfect all clothing and shoes upon your return to the U.S. USDA GUIDELINES FOR BRINGING AGRICULTURAL ITEMS INTO THE U.S. Before departing on any travel abroad, we must be aware of the USDA’s guidelines for bringing agricultural items into the U.S. The USDA restricts or prohibits many of these items from entering the country because they could carry pests or diseases that could threaten human health or devastate the environment, crops, agricultural animals, ornamental plants, and community landscapes. That pretty well sums up all of our occupations!! It is very important to declare any and all food, plant items or handicrafts you have with you when returning to the U.S. Officers or agricultural specialists with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will inspect your baggage when you first arrive in the United States to ensure that the agricultural items you are carrying are allowable under USDA regulations. The following items are generally allowed entry into the U.S.:
Meat, milk, egg, poultry, and products such as dried soup mix or bouillon, are either prohibited or restricted from entering the United States, depending on the types of animal diseases that occur in the country of origin. Fresh (chilled or frozen), dried, cured, and fully cooked meat is generally prohibited from most countries. Canned meat is allowed entry, except beef, veal, lamb, mutton, venison, elk, bison, etc., from countries affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy. USDA also regulates miscellaneous agricultural products such as birdseed, wood products, grains, nuts, cottonseed, and dried ornamental matter used to make decorative items for indoor use. These items must be declared to CBP agricultural specialists or officers and presented for inspection to ensure that they meet all import requirements and are free from harmful animal and plant pests and diseases. For additional questions, travelers may contact USDA’s Permits Customer Service line at (301) 851-2046 or toll-free automated system at (877) 770-5990. The fax number is (301) 734-4300, and the e-mail address is Permits@aphis.usda.gov. Individuals who fail to declare non-commercial agricultural items may be subject to penalties ranging from $1,100 to $60,000 per violation. These penalties are based on authorities granted to USDA through the Plant Protection Act and the Animal Health Protection Act. While these general guidelines are useful, be aware that they do not cover all of the possible restrictions that can apply to specific agricultural items. The admissibility of a given item can change very quickly because disease and pest outbreaks can occur anywhere in the world at any time. That's why it is critical that you declare all agricultural products stored in your baggage. SOUTH AFRICA’S FARMING SECTORS – Brief overview South Africa is divided into several farming regions according to climate, natural vegetation, soil type and farming practices. Agricultural activities range from intensive crop production and mixed farming in winter rainfall and high summer rainfall areas to cattle ranching in the bushveld and sheep farming in more arid regions. The grain industry is one of the largest in South Africa, producing between 25% and 33% of the country's total gross agricultural production. The largest area of farmland is planted with maize, followed by wheat and some sugarcane and sunflowers. Maize is the largest locally produced field crop, and the most important source of carbohydrates in the southern African region. Wheat is produced in the winter rainfall areas of the Western Cape and the eastern parts of the Free State. Since the deregulation of the wheat industry in 1997, farmers in South Africa have found it difficult to produce wheat profitably. With the pressure on profit margins, many local farmers scaled down wheat production and switched wheat fields to other crops like canola, oats, corn, soybeans or increased livestock production. Therefore wheat imports are expected to increase by about 25 percent this year. South Africa is the ninth largest wine producer in the world. Over 110,000ha of land are under cultivation, with over 300-million vines. About 84% of wines are produced by cooperatives. Over 4,000 primary wine producers employ over 60,000 people. South African wine exports rose from 22-million liters in 1992 to almost 314-million liters in 2007, with exports, between January 2007 and January 2008, rising above domestic sales for the first time ever. Potatoes make up about 40% of vegetable farmers' gross income, with tomatoes, onions, green mealies (corn on the cob) and sweetcorn contributing about 38%. Cotton constitutes about 74% of natural fiber and 42% of all fiber processed in South Africa. Cotton is grown under irrigation as well as in dryland conditions. Seventy-five percent of local production is harvested by hand. Livestock production of dairy, beef cattle, sheep and goat, poultry, pigs, game, and aquaculture is the largest agricultural sector in South Africa, with a population of some 13.8-million cattle and 28.8-million sheep. The four major dairy breeds in South Africa are the Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey and Ayrshire. The dairy industry is important to South Africa's job market, with over 4,000 milk producers employing about 60,000 farmworkers and indirectly providing jobs to some 40,000 people. South Africa's poultry and pig farms are more intensive than sheep and cattle production, and are found near metropolitan areas. Annual poultry meat production is around 960,000 tons and is the country’s largest individual agricultural industry. Broiler production contributes about 80% to total poultry meat production. South Africa accounts for around 65% of world sales of ostrich products - leather, meat and feathers. Sources: Gerald Theus, Assistant Regional Director for U.S. Wheat Associates, Cape Town Mike Schulte, Executive Director, Oklahoma Wheat Commission http://www.uswheat.org/resources South Africa Agriculture Jennifer Jensen As the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program, Class XVI prepares to visit South Africa and gain international agricultural knowledge; this paper is intended to be a helpful resource for the following topics:
Agricultural value chains Professor Justin Barnes, University of KwaZulu-Natal, is an acknowledged expert in the global manufacturing sector, having worked in manufacturing policy development since 1996. Barnes has conducted extensive research on food processing value chains in South Africa. Barnes explains that South Africa (SA) faces major strategic issues in five most prominent food processing value chains: meat/poultry/seafood, fruit and vegetable, confectionary, milk and dairy, and grains and related products. Meat/poultry/seafood The poultry and pork industries are under severe pressure from low cost imports. For example, the South Africa Poultry Association (SAPA) is asking the government to stop the European Union (EU) and Brazil from “dumping” cheap imports into SA due to their relatively lax import regulations. Additionally, lack of veterinary protocols and regulation has resulted in lapse of certain trade agreements, limiting international market opportunities (Global Meat News.com). Industry consolidation has resulted in increased local industry competitiveness, but import infiltration has inhibited local investment in processing operations, and therefore affecting the industry’s long-term viability. Nevertheless, South Africa is a net exporter of agricultural, fish and forestry products. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom are the major destination of these commodities and represents almost 20 percent of total exports. South Africa’s exports of agricultural, fish and forestry products to the United States were $218 million in 2010, 17 percent more than in 2009, and accounts for more than 3 percent of agricultural exports by South Africa (USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Gain Report, July 2011). Milk and dairy South Africa has undergone significant industry consolidation that has improved competitiveness, but the industry has received substantial import pressure in respect of UHT (ultrahigh temperature) products. An article posted by SouthAfrica.info, explains that as recent as October 2012 the Eastern Cape (EC) Province's eco-friendly Coega Dairy became the first South African dairy to be awarded an ISO 22000 Food Safety System Certification. ISO 22000 FSSC was the first single standard to attain worldwide recognition and is a sought-after international standard for food safety management. Located in the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) just outside Port Elizabeth, the dairy produces Coastal View UHT milk and butter and has the smallest carbon footprint of any dairy throughout the southern hemisphere. Grains and related products A report published on December 12, 2012 from USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service explains SA is a net exporter of wine and beer, particularly wine of fresh grapes. The South African wine industry is relatively large and extensive ranked seventh in world output. South Africans’ tastes and preferences are becoming more sophisticated and the average consumer is increasingly expecting a wide range of beer. Imports South Africa is known for its well-developed food processing sector that produces a wide range of processed food products. However, the local production does not adequately supply the market, so opportunities exist for imports to supplement the needs. Despite competition from EU countries, who often benefit from low import tariff rates to enter the South African market, American brands are becoming increasingly popular due to their high quality attributes, including price. An example of potential growth sales is sausage casings, which SA is a net importer of the product. The import tariff rate is free from both the US and the EU countries. The US has 14% market share after China with 63%. Crops with a larger and more significant export market to the United States include citrus ($41 million), wine ($39 million) and nuts ($27 million). Imports from the United States increased by 60% to a record $269 million in 2010 and represents 5 percent of South African imports of agriculture, fish, and forestry products. The increase in imports from the United States was due to an increase in wheat imports. Wheat ($75 million), prepared food ($33 million) and animal offals ($6 million) were the major products imported from the United States by South Africa in 2010 (USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Gain Report, July 2011). Food Safety Sue Blaine with Business Day Live reported, “African countries told to clean up food safety standards”. Blaine’s article recognized there are many challenges to food safety in Africa, but Malose Matlala, Department of Health Deputy Director of Regulatory Nutrition, said the continent as a whole has to establish safety standards before it can attain the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases per According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), there are an estimated 2,000 food safety-related deaths in Africa each day. Africa’s first Global Food Safety Initiative Focus Day was recently held in Johannesburg on September 11, 2013. The initiative’s chairman, Yves Rey, said food safety was a shared risk across the globe because most food products contained ingredients from several countries. “The food industry faces a huge number of food safety standards across the world. The Global Food Safety Initiative is an attempt to standardize (food safety standards) and to reduce confusion,” he said. The event was held under the support of South Africa’s National Consumer Commission, a legal body aimed at promoting a fair, accessible and sustainable marketplace for consumer products and services, and establishing national consumer protection standards. Matlala said food safety and food security were inextricably linked, and countries (presumably all African countries) needed to develop good science-based food safety legislation that was also enforceable. Biotechnology, including GMOs South Africa is unusual amongst developing countries, having only a short history of independent development and democracy, but having a well-developed economic and commercial sector, which has been based largely on natural resources such as mineral and agricultural wealth. South Africa also enjoys a rich environmental diversity and highly favorable conditions for agriculture and agro-industry. Biotechnology in South Africa has, until recently, focused mainly on first-generation applications such as those in the food industry. There are well-developed industries involved in brewing and food production, and as mentioned above, a high-profile wine industry (Electronic Journal of Biotechnology). Research directed to address local needs, such as in the agricultural field, is increasingly needed and of major importance to national needs, but tends to have lower international visibility and weight. However, South Africa has a long-standing and productive research activity in the area of plant biotechnology, which has earned international recognition for its major contribution to development of genetically improved crops suited for African needs. Although the GMO debate continues globally, it is a common view that developing countries, especially in Africa, cannot afford to reject GM-crops while food shortages and crop failures remain prevalent (The Epoch Times). According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, GMOs are allowed and grown in South Africa. In 2012, South Africa ranked as the eighth largest grower of biotech crops with 7.2 million acres (2.9 million hectares) of maize, soybean, and cotton. GMOs were accepted under the Genetically Modified Organisms Act of 1997 that permitted companies, such as Monsanto, to go through an application process to have crops approved. Agricultural Households per Province In 2009, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) conducted research on agricultural statistics in the country. One of the findings was that the country lacked information on smallholder and subsistence agriculture. The current list of farmers being used to conduct surveys was mainly confined to commercial agriculture. A decision was taken that three questions related to agriculture would be included in the Population Census 2011 questionnaire. The main objective was to identify all households involved in agriculture in the country, so that a complete frame of all individuals and entities involved in agriculture (both subsistence and commercial) could be generated. This will allow for a comprehensive agricultural census to be conducted. 
Agricultural Households vs. Non-Agricultural Households WC: 94.8% / 5.2% FS: 75.6% / 24.4% GP: 92.9% / 7.1% SA: 80.1% / 19.9% EC: 64.6% / 35.4% KZN: 71.8 / 28/2% MP: 75.5% / 24.5% NC: 81.7% / 18.3% NW: 79.8% / 20.2% LP: 67% / 33%
Agricultural Education and Research Institutions
In summary, South African agriculture is varied and therefore produces several diverse commodities. However, the country faces deep challenges, including food safety, but is making strides with exports, such as wine and citrus. Visiting South Africa will provide a top-notch experience for an Oklahoma agricultural professional. Sources: Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries; http://www.daff.gov.za/ Electric Journal of Biotechnology, Development of Biotechnology in South Africa; http://ejbiotechnology.ucv.cl/content/vol5/issue1/issues/03/ Business Day Live; September 12, 2013; http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/2013/09/12/african-countries-told-to-clean-up-food-safety-standards The Epoch Times; October 19, 2013. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/323644-gmos-in-south-africa-facts-at-a-glance/ Global Meat News.com; June 12, 2013; http://www.globalmeatnews.com/Industry-Markets/South-African-producers-issue-warning-on-poultry-imports International Service of the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications; http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/44/executivesummary/ Population Studies and Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal; http://sds.ukzn.ac.za/default.php?3,4,107,4,0 South Africa.info; http://www.southafrica.info/business/success/coega-dairy-031012.htm#ixzz2nPZcBXzW Statistics South Africa; http://beta2.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=735&id=4&paged=2 USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Gain Report, July 2011; http://www.globaltrade.net/f/market-research/pdf/South-Africa/Processing-of-Food-and-Agricultural-Products-Food-Processing-Ingredients-Market-Report.html Agriculture in South Africa Chris Hitch Agriculture in South Africa has a duality to it. There are modern farming and ranching techniques being used by modern style farms and ranches, but there are also of subsistence farming and ranching.1 This is a type of production where one eats what one grows and sells any extra from the harvest. I am going to focus my paper on 4 main topics. I will cover cattle feeding and ranching and contrast it with the United States system. I will look at swine production in South Africa and compare it to the United States system. I will attempt to explain, very basically, the educational path a student would take to become a licensed veterinarian in South Africa and compare it to the US as well. Lastly, I will briefly discuss a phenomenon in South Africa regarding the class of citizens called the Boers and their plight. Let’s begin with cattle. While dairy is a prominent industry in South Africa, I’m going to focus my time on the beef side of cattle production. South Africa is a net importer of beef. They grow about 85% of their needs and import the remainder from neighboring countries as well as Austrailia, New Zealand and the European Union.1 South Africa has three main forms of cattle production. The first would be a commercial beef producer.2 These are very similar to the US production system. They’re predominately white owned and technologically advanced. They’re also significantly more efficient than the other two forms of beef production in South Africa. These are ranchers and feedlot owners that use current technology at all levels in the production chain. The cattle are predominantly exotics and exotic crosses, like Simmental and Charolais, (55 – 65%) with a mixture of native and locally developed crossbreeds filling in the remainder of the genetics.3 The feedlots in South Africa are a part of this segment of the cattle industry. These employ everything a modern feedlot in the United States would. Their facilities, record keeping, machinery, etc. all would mimic anything found in the United States. In fact, the largest feedlot in South Africa would have a capacity of over 120,000 head!4 Not all feedlots in South Africa are large enough to justify the expense of all the modern technology that Karan Beef has. Many employ much less technology but make use of the excess of cheap labor, instead. They’ll feed a balanced ration with the use of hormones, implants, Zilpaterol, and other feed ingredients to maximize performance of the cattle in the feed yard, but will rely on men with shovels and a tractor to dispense feed instead of large feed trucks with on board scales and computers.3 It costs a lot to import and maintain all that specialized equipment since there isn’t enough demand for a company to either start a dealership and bring them over from the US or develop a manufacturing plant in South Africa to make the equipment and sell it locally. Therefore, smaller feedlots that are unable to cover the expenses merely replace the equipment with labor. It’s less efficient but there are lots of people looking for work (unemployment estimates are around 25%5). Other than substituting labor for technology and equipment, these feedlots are very similar to ones found in the US. In fact, they have an organization not unlike Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) or Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) called the South African Feedlot Association.6 The other two sections of the beef industry are a black cattle rancher that runs cattle on leased or owned land (very small, emerging group) and the communal cattle rancher that runs their cattle on communal (public) lands.2 Much like in the United States, these producers are smaller but significantly more numerous and can include tribal leaders in primitive society. While the feedlot owners do buy cattle from these groups, they try to purchase as much of the cattle from more commercialized producers where breeds, cattle age, feed, etc. have been more tightly controlled.3 While the South African feedlot industry uses modern techniques and feed ingredients, they feed a vastly different animal to a very different endpoint than in the United States. They tend to take a light calf weighing about 400-450 lbs. and feed the animal about 120 days to a weight of approximately 1000 lbs.3 The focus is red meat yield and extra fat is undesirable.6 Additionally, because the cattle are killed at a much younger age, the beef is kept very tender even without the extra fat.6 The swine production in South Africa mimics the beef production in all aspects, except for size. There is modern pork facilities not unlike the ones located in Guymon, OK. These facilities are more often located near metroplex areas.1 this is for two main reasons. 1) The industry is very small compared to cattle, goats, and sheep and requires much smaller land masses to support the industry and 2) African Swine Fever. The first reason is relatively simple. Since the pigs don’t need vast tracts of land to graze on and are kept inside barns for all of their lives, the people simply raise the animals near the population centers for convenience and to be near byproducts that can be fed to the animals. The second reason is likely not a disease you’re familiar with unless actively around hogs. African Swine Fever is a very nasty disease that is endemic in the native porcine population in Africa.7 Luckily, for the native wild hogs, the disease does nothing to the animals. For domesticated animals it is almost 100% fatal.7 This is why the animals are more often located near population areas. There are less wild hogs near cities than in the forests and plains. Since we are all involved in agriculture in some way or another, I thought it would be interesting to take a quick look at the educational system in South Africa and compare the path a student would take to become a veterinarian in South Africa compared to the United States. Elementary, Junior High or Middle School and High School are contrasted with South Africa’s versions of the same.8 There is very little difference between the US’s educational system and South Africa’s system and no real reason to discuss them. There is only one vet school in South Africa, and unlike in the US where you are likely to have to get a bachelor’s in a field of study before being accepted into vet school, a student begins his or her vet program immediately upon entering the university.9 Although the program has undergone many changes during the past several years, the length of the program really hasn’t changed if one wishes to be a licensed vet.9 It will take the prospective student approximately 6 years to finish with advanced degrees available.9 The curriculum was broken up into 2 different sections of 3 years a piece, but from 2011 on, it will be one 6 year program.10 After reading the focus during the various years of schooling, it appears that the type of study and the rigorous requirements of the US schools seems to be the same. Instead of cramming 3 years of classroom work at a student, the school, South Africa seems to take a more leisurely pace. Then again, the student is expected to be sufficiently educated when leaving the basic educational system to not need remedial training as we do in the US educational system. The student only studies vet science, but it appears that many of the classes would mimic courses one might take while obtaining a bachelor’s degree in the United States. In South Africa, they just skip all the national history and English composition courses and focuses on biology, instead. The last topic I wanted to touch upon is a bit of a mystery to me. When I originally looked at my specific area and chose topics to try and cover, this was not a topic on the list, but it was a huge topic for the South African who was staying with me 2 years ago. I emailed him and requested his help fleshing out the hatred of the Boers by the natives, the killing of the Boers and the forced relocation of the Boers since Nelson Mandela’s election in the early 1990’s. Unfortunately, he never actually gave me any information about the topic as of the time of this paper. Therefore, I’ll try to recount his comments as best I can, sum up what I was able to find on the internet and add a bit of my speculation. The reason I still included this section is because it was so monumental to him when he came. Even though it wasn’t listed on the list of topics, I felt it warranted discussion just so we’re aware of the situation while we’re in South Africa. If my contact finally responds with information, I’ll supplement this paper with another; smaller paper discussing the topic from his point of view. First of all, what is a Boer? The word Boer is a Dutch word for farmer.11 essentially; it is a very small subset of the Afrikaner (basically white) population in South Africa. Not all Whites in South Africa are Afrikaners and not all Afrikaners are white (there are about 100 black Afrikaners in a settlement that are descendants of free slaves that were with white Afrikaners around 1886).11 Afrikaners speak their own language which is a mixture of Dutch, German, and local dialects.11 Afrikaners are approximately 5% of the total South African population with Boers being a smaller subset even of that.11 Basically, if you are white and farming/ranching, you are considered a Boer even if you don’t have the same cultural history as the Boer. To the black South African, it is a slur word. There have been many disputed attacks on white farmers in South Africa. The government does not recognize the attacks as aimed specifically at white farmers, but the white farmers argue that they are race crimes against them. Since all of this is disputed and I can’t get information from any source I trust, I’ll summarize what I have been told and read. Many South African blacks are VERY resentful towards whites in South Africa (probably with good reason). Additionally, the majority of commercial farming and ranching operations are owned and controlled by whites. Much of the land is at least contested as being stolen from Natives back when the whites were settling the area. Therefore, in the black South African’s frameset, the whites are now growing and controlling all the food on land they stole from blacks 100, 200, or even 300 years ago. The black population is often very poor. Lastly, South Africa has been in a severe drought for the past several years limiting food distribution. All of these factors have made white farmers significant targets for venting frustration. There are many documented attacks on white farmers in South Africa. Not only are the families killed and their homes destroyed, often there is evidence of severe torturing of the entire family, children included before death. What is at dispute is why and who are behind the attacks. The one white Boer I have spoken with claims it is racially motivated and young blacks are behind the attacks. Also, many claim the attacks are organized by a group instead of random senseless violence by individuals. The government denies this. It claims all the attacks are unrelated except that they are against white farmers. Additionally, my contact claims that the governmental system is set up to give land back to blacks in South Africa. He claims it began after Nelson Mandela was elected President and continues to today. All a black person must do is show that he or his family ever had ownership in the land in question, and the government kicks the white people off the land and gives all the livestock, equipment, etc. to the black man. The recipient of the property rarely tries to actually continue the business and just guts the operation and leaves. The white farmer is left penniless, homeless, and without recourse. There are two things to take from this on a 35,000 foot level, I think. 1) Be aware we could be mistaken for Boers and that racial hate is very real in South Africa. 2) Because of the danger of being killed or having your business taken away from you, educated white farmers are going to be less and less likely to invest in their future in South Africa. With the whites being significantly more educated, it wouldn’t surprise me to see this country seriously devolve over the next several years. Sources: 1“South Africa’s Farming Sectors.” SouthAfrica.info. Brand South Africa. October 2008. 5 January 2014. http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/sectors/542547.htm#.UsoIUMuA1D8. 2“Livestock Production”. Department: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Republic of South Africa. Republic of South Africa. 5 January 2014. http://www.nda.agric.za/. 3 J. Simpson (personal communication 6 January 2014). 4 “The Group.” Karan Beef: Now Quality has a name!. http://www.karanbeef.co.za/AboutUs. 5 “South Africa Unemployment Rate.” Trading Economics. Trading Economics. Joana Taborda. 29 October 2013. 6 January 2014. http://www.tradingeconomics.com/south-africa/unemployment-rate. 6 “About Us.” South African Feedlot Association. 6 January 2014. http://www.safeedlot.co.za/index.asp?Content=129 7 “African Swine Fever Virus.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 2 November 2013. Web. 5 January 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_swine_fever. 8 “Education in South Africa.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 6 January 2014. Web. 6 January 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_swine_fever. 9 “University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary Science.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 17 August 2013. Web. 6 January 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_swine_fever. 10 “BVSc Overview.” University of Pretoria. The University of Pretoria. 2011. 6 Janaury 2014. http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=1160&sub=1&parentid=50&subid=1149&ipklookid=13. 11 “Afrikaner.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 3 January 2014. 6 January 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikaner. Government and Military Chris Kidd Meriruth Cohenour Justin Lingo Janet Stewart Politics Relationship of the media and government Treaties and laws and its relationship with the U.S. South African national symbols and meanings Chris Kidd Politics: It’s fair to say, South Africa’s political system is young and vibrant considering South Africa’s Constitution was recently passed in December 1996. South Africa’s Constitution states that the country shall be run on a system of co-operative governance. Parliament Legislative authority is vested in Parliament which is situated in Cape Town and consists of two houses, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. Like the United States, The South African Constitution states the president is the head of state and the head of government. Leading up to passage of the constitution, there was the union of South Africa formed in 1910, and in 1961 the union left the British Commonwealth. South Africa’s Government operates under a system known as the National Assembly of Parliament. This political system is made up of thirteen (13) political parties, but much like the United States, South African Government is dominated by two parties. The majority party is the African National Congress (ANC), which has grown immensely since Apartheid. The second largest party is the Democratic Alliance, which formerly was known as the Democratic Party. But in recent years the ANC has become the more popular of the two parties. Many South Africans consider the ANC as the country’s party for reducing the gap between the socioeconomic differences in society. Most citizens also believe the ANC creates balance despite having an unequal and segregated past. Most non-whites of South Africa belong to and vote for the ANC. The Democratic Alliance is considered to be the successor to the earlier Progressive Party which was relatively liberal and made up of white voters. The Democratic Alliance continues to support their liberal agendas. There are many other smaller parties including the Inkatha Freedom Party, and the New National Party. These parties also have their voice heard in government because of South Africa’s proportional election system. Many believe the current system is working because it provides collective and descriptive representation. On the other hand, this system has created no direct link between legislators and voters, and in my opinion, this translates into no accountability. Although we are similar in the fact both countries have two dominating parties, South Africa’s smaller parties are also represented in the government. When I hear the words, “South Africa” it is synonymous, as I’m sure it is for many, with the name Nelson Mandela. Considered to be a symbol of peace, Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative, multi-racial election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalized racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as the President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999. Relationship of the media and government: Another Constitutional similarity South Africa shares with the United States, they are both designed to protect their citizens and their rights. The freedom of press, religion and speech is located in both constitutions. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” Both countries believe in thinking and saying what they would like to. They believe in freedom of expression and freedom of the press and media. They also believe in freedom of assembly. Treaties and laws (relationship with the U.S.) The United States has maintained an official presence in South Africa since 1799, when an American consulate was opened in Cape Town. The U.S. Embassy is located in Pretoria, and Consulates General are in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Americans and South Africans also have many non-governmental ties: black and white American missionaries, for example, have a long history of activity in South Africa. South Africans, particularly the ANC leadership, also acknowledge support from and ties to the anti-apartheid movement in the U.S. but for over forty (40) years, from 1948 to 1990, South Africa was in conflict with both the international community and international law. Apartheid, caused by race discrimination and the denial of human rights, was in conflict with both the law of the UN and basic human rights. During this period South Africa became a pariah state within the international community; or a delinquent state according the new international law of human rights. Although treaties were incorporated into municipal law, the hostility of the apartheid undoubtedly influenced the attitudes of legislators, judges, and lawyers. International law received no constitutional recognition and was ignored by the courts and lawyers. Despite South Africa’s past, all this has changed. South Africa is now a democratic state, with a democratically elected Parliament. Human rights and racial equality are constitutionally protected, and there is a new attitude towards international law. Whereas international law was previously seen as a threat to the state, it is now viewed as one of the pillars of the new democracy. In 1993 twenty-six (26) political groups assembled at Kempton Park, near Johannesburg, to draft a constitution to bring an end to the apartheid legal order. Six (6) months was to serve as an interim constitution, pending the drafting of a constitution by a democratically elected Constitutional Assembly. As the Interim Constitution represented a political compromise between rival groups, and the African National Congress, it was agreed at Kempton Park that the final constitution would comply with thirty-four (34) constitutional principles. This Interim Constitution, approved at Kempton Park, was endorsed by the last Apartheid Parliament and became the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 200 of 1993. On April 27, 1994 the Interim Constitution came into effect to govern South Africa's first democratic elections. The Parliament then served the role of both the legislature and Constitutional Assembly. From January 1995 to May 1996 the Constitutional Assembly met regularly to draft the 'final' constitution in accordance with the thirty-four (34) constitutional principles agreed upon at Kempton Park. A draft constitution was approved by the required two-thirds (2/3) majority vote in the Constitutional Assembly on May 8th and forwarded to the Constitutional Court for certification. The Constitutional Court, however, found fault with a number of provisions in the draft constitution, on the grounds that they failed to comply with the constitutional principles contained in the Interim Constitution, and referred it back to the Constitutional Assembly. After these faults had been resolved by the Constitutional Assembly, the Constitutional Court gave its final approval to the Constitution on December 4th 1996. The new Constitution, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, was signed into law by President Mandela on December 10th 1996. This ceremony took place on Human Rights Day at Sharpeville, which was the scene of the massacre of African demonstrators against the laws of apartheid in 1960. Since the abolition of apartheid and the first-ever democratic elections of April 1994, the United States has enjoyed an excellent relationship with South Africa. Although there are differences of position between the two governments (regarding Iraq, for example), they have not impeded cooperation on a broad range of key issues. Cooperation in counter-terrorism, fighting HIV/AIDS, and military relations has been particularly positive. Through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States also provides assistance to South Africa to help them meet their developmental goals. Peace Corps volunteers began working in South Africa in 1997. On January 28, 2009, newly elected US President Barack Obama telephoned his newly installed counterpart Kgalema Motlanthe as one of a list of foreign contacts he had been working through since his presidential inauguration the previous week. Given primary treatment was South Africa's role in helping to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe. According to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, the pair "shared concerns" on the matter. Obama credited South Africa for holding "a key role" in resolving the Zimbabwean crisis, and said that he is looking forward to working with President Motlanthe to address global financial issues at the 2009 G-20 London summit. Over the past (2) years, the U.S.-South Africa bilateral relationship has been a diplomatic minefield. Issues include everything from military equipment and nuclear energy and weapons to oil, communication companies, and the global north versus the global south. The most recent and the most serious issue regarding U.S.- South Africa relations is Iran. According to a press release sent out by the South African Revenue Service, South Africa imported 3.37 billion rand or $435 million of crude oil from Iran in March 2012. This means South Africa nearly doubled its purchases from the Islamic Republic compared to the same period in 2011 despite the strong objections by the United States to cut off Iran financially and halt Iran’s nuclear program. Despite the U.S. and South African bilateral relationship hitting a “rough patch” due to differences in their policies and stances on Libya and Iran, I believe the situation will be managed as it has been in the past. I think the road will be bumpy at times but that the United States is a friend and ally and that we will continue to have a great and continuous relationship with South Africa. South African Symbols and There Meanings: We will see a number of symbols while visiting South Africa. Here is a short guide to the national symbols of South Africa. 
National flag. The national flag of the Republic of South Africa was adopted on Freedom Day which is April 27, 1994, and first flown on the day Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as President on May 10, 1994. The central design of the flag begins at the flag-pole in a V form and flows into a single horizontal band to the outer edge of the flag; to us it looks like a sideways Y. This stands for the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity. The national anthem is Fly, the beloved flag. Yüklə 0,54 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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